Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Supreme Grand Council Of France And Marshal Magnan.
THE SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF FRANCE AND MARSHAL MAGNAN .
ZOXDOS " , SATURDAY , JULY 13 , 1803-.
Our readers are well acquainted with the unfortunate position of Freemasonry iu France consequent on the quarrel between Princes Napoleon and Lueien Murat . The Emperor stepped in and appointed Marshal Magnan Grand Master , and he , imagining- the appointment gave him authority over all other rites ,
has endeavoured to suppress the Sites Ecossais , with what success will be best seen from a summary of the whole case which we have condensed from our
contemporary Le Monde Magonnique , the acknowledged organ of Freemasonry in France , of more than forty years' standing . On the 30 th of April , Marshal Magnan , having not long previously been made a Mason , by order of the Emperor , and appointed Grand Master by the same ,
issued a proclamation to all the lodges in France , signed by himself , and Bro . lieullant , D . G . M ., to the following effect : — -He stated that , until that time there had been , what he was pleased to term , a schism in French Masonry , but on that day , and , as he said , "for
the first time , French Masonry had been so honoured , " by order of one high in authority , the direction of all the lodges , and rites in France , had been placed under him .
His manifesto expatiated on the beauty and value of Masonic unity , and urged that the success of Masonry in France , depended upon one chief centre , and reckoning that centre to be himself ; stated that he hoped to govern as Grand Master , without employing means repugnant to his feelings , resting assured French
Masons were too enlightened for him to need any other language of appeal to them than that of persuasion . He also expressed his confidence that all Masons would rally round , and support him by their good wishes , and , significantly added , that the Supreme Grand Council did not mistake what it had heard of
his power , for in him , the Grand Orient of France asserted its supremacy ; and if those who held under the Supreme Grand Council , really loved Masonry , they would attach themselves to that body , and become reconciled to that state of things without passion , having no other desire but the glory and
splendour of the Order . To those under the Grand Orient he addressed himself , reminding them that they had felt the inconveniences of different Masonic , jurisdictions , and that he expected them to set an example , as by their aid , he especially hoped to realise that Masonic unity which was so important to all . He also invited them to give in their adhesion
The Supreme Grand Council Of France And Marshal Magnan.
to the Grand Orient , to state their desires , and present their views , informing them that he , as their Grand Master , was always accessible and willing to hear and consider all propositions submitted to him . Such was the gist of the first manifesto issued by the Emperor ' s nominee , which has raised a perfect
hurricane of indignation amongst the French Masons . They contend that the document is , in effect , a reproduction of the rivalry that has , for forty years been lost sight of . It is asked how Masons who prefer an allegiance to the Supreme Grand Council , in preference to the Grand Orient , could render it necessary for this
call to union , seeing that they have m no way interfered with each other . The disunion is clearly set on foot by this manifesto , which without forewarning gives to an old decree , an interpretation not to have been looked for at the present day . In issuing the mandate it appears that the
new-Grand Master has acted with a total disregard of the advice of his Grand Officers , who were opposed to this arbitrary change . Moreover , with a want of courtesy almost unprecedented , he promulgated his commands without condescending to make the
Supreme Grand Council acquainted in his intentions , thereby involving the Masters of lodges , who might come in under the proclamation , with a breach of their
obligation , and fealty to their mother lodges , as well as repudiating the good offices of the Supreme Grand Council , who they have hitherto looked upon as their recognized head , and have made them Masons , a character of which no state law , or edict can ever deprive them .
Some lodges under the Supreme Grand Council have , in deference to authority , gone over to the Grand Orient , and , perhaps , this course may have been a prudent one in a country like France , but the majority have remained true to their allegiance in the general interest of the Order and their own .
The astonishment has been great amongst all classes of Masons by the Grand Master's statement that disunion existed ; they deny it , and the members of the Grand Orient lodges declare the } ' have always been received with delight by the lodges holding under the
Site Ecossais . Eoth the general regulations of the Grand Orient and the statutes of the Supreme Grand Council are equally known to the civil authorities , which , without having officially sanctioned them , has , by a long experience , been assured that they eouldnot
be a cause of trouble to the state . The same spirit animated the brethren under both rites , and no one , during the last twenty years , lias perceived any signs of the want of unity alluded to in the Grand Master's decree .
Enquiries are made as to the crime of those who will not declare their adhesion to the Grand Orient . "With what pains and penalties are they to be visited ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Supreme Grand Council Of France And Marshal Magnan.
THE SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF FRANCE AND MARSHAL MAGNAN .
ZOXDOS " , SATURDAY , JULY 13 , 1803-.
Our readers are well acquainted with the unfortunate position of Freemasonry iu France consequent on the quarrel between Princes Napoleon and Lueien Murat . The Emperor stepped in and appointed Marshal Magnan Grand Master , and he , imagining- the appointment gave him authority over all other rites ,
has endeavoured to suppress the Sites Ecossais , with what success will be best seen from a summary of the whole case which we have condensed from our
contemporary Le Monde Magonnique , the acknowledged organ of Freemasonry in France , of more than forty years' standing . On the 30 th of April , Marshal Magnan , having not long previously been made a Mason , by order of the Emperor , and appointed Grand Master by the same ,
issued a proclamation to all the lodges in France , signed by himself , and Bro . lieullant , D . G . M ., to the following effect : — -He stated that , until that time there had been , what he was pleased to term , a schism in French Masonry , but on that day , and , as he said , "for
the first time , French Masonry had been so honoured , " by order of one high in authority , the direction of all the lodges , and rites in France , had been placed under him .
His manifesto expatiated on the beauty and value of Masonic unity , and urged that the success of Masonry in France , depended upon one chief centre , and reckoning that centre to be himself ; stated that he hoped to govern as Grand Master , without employing means repugnant to his feelings , resting assured French
Masons were too enlightened for him to need any other language of appeal to them than that of persuasion . He also expressed his confidence that all Masons would rally round , and support him by their good wishes , and , significantly added , that the Supreme Grand Council did not mistake what it had heard of
his power , for in him , the Grand Orient of France asserted its supremacy ; and if those who held under the Supreme Grand Council , really loved Masonry , they would attach themselves to that body , and become reconciled to that state of things without passion , having no other desire but the glory and
splendour of the Order . To those under the Grand Orient he addressed himself , reminding them that they had felt the inconveniences of different Masonic , jurisdictions , and that he expected them to set an example , as by their aid , he especially hoped to realise that Masonic unity which was so important to all . He also invited them to give in their adhesion
The Supreme Grand Council Of France And Marshal Magnan.
to the Grand Orient , to state their desires , and present their views , informing them that he , as their Grand Master , was always accessible and willing to hear and consider all propositions submitted to him . Such was the gist of the first manifesto issued by the Emperor ' s nominee , which has raised a perfect
hurricane of indignation amongst the French Masons . They contend that the document is , in effect , a reproduction of the rivalry that has , for forty years been lost sight of . It is asked how Masons who prefer an allegiance to the Supreme Grand Council , in preference to the Grand Orient , could render it necessary for this
call to union , seeing that they have m no way interfered with each other . The disunion is clearly set on foot by this manifesto , which without forewarning gives to an old decree , an interpretation not to have been looked for at the present day . In issuing the mandate it appears that the
new-Grand Master has acted with a total disregard of the advice of his Grand Officers , who were opposed to this arbitrary change . Moreover , with a want of courtesy almost unprecedented , he promulgated his commands without condescending to make the
Supreme Grand Council acquainted in his intentions , thereby involving the Masters of lodges , who might come in under the proclamation , with a breach of their
obligation , and fealty to their mother lodges , as well as repudiating the good offices of the Supreme Grand Council , who they have hitherto looked upon as their recognized head , and have made them Masons , a character of which no state law , or edict can ever deprive them .
Some lodges under the Supreme Grand Council have , in deference to authority , gone over to the Grand Orient , and , perhaps , this course may have been a prudent one in a country like France , but the majority have remained true to their allegiance in the general interest of the Order and their own .
The astonishment has been great amongst all classes of Masons by the Grand Master's statement that disunion existed ; they deny it , and the members of the Grand Orient lodges declare the } ' have always been received with delight by the lodges holding under the
Site Ecossais . Eoth the general regulations of the Grand Orient and the statutes of the Supreme Grand Council are equally known to the civil authorities , which , without having officially sanctioned them , has , by a long experience , been assured that they eouldnot
be a cause of trouble to the state . The same spirit animated the brethren under both rites , and no one , during the last twenty years , lias perceived any signs of the want of unity alluded to in the Grand Master's decree .
Enquiries are made as to the crime of those who will not declare their adhesion to the Grand Orient . "With what pains and penalties are they to be visited ?